Indoor Air Quality
Ebola Virus and HVAC Systems
With news of a recent outbreak of the Ebola virus in Africa, and fears that it has already spread to some areas of the United States, it would be prudent to warn anyone who may be concerned about their indoor air quality that there is currently no product that the HVAC industry offers that will reduce the spread of Ebola.
There are many excellent air filtration systems available, such as HEPA filtration units and Ultra Violet (UV) systems that kill mold, bacteria and odors, but they just have not yet made such a system that could kill off any disease that is transmitted by bodily fluids or by human contact.
A veteran’s administration hospital in Puerto Rico is ordering the emergency installation of multi hepa filters in the ward’s return air HVAC ducting to create an emergency Ebola quarantine ward.
This situation is considered an emergency and prompt attention is required. Delaying repair will create a situation where an outbreak of Ebola may happen to patient, guest or employees.
What they’re concerned about, is that there is going to be airborne Ebola in the ward, and the air ducts are going to suck it into the HVAC system and its going to spread it around to the rest of the hospital.
There are other experts who claim that HEPA filters are only good down to .3 micron sized particulates but the ebola virus is as small as .02 microns in size so it won’t really work.
So if you can’t be sure that you can entirely eliminate the virus from an HVAC system, what is the average person to do? At a minimum, avoid direct contact with infected people and incorporate regular hand washing using soap and water.
Additional information from the FDA… Unfortunately, during outbreak situations, fraudulent products claiming to prevent, treat or cure a disease almost always appear. The FDA monitors for fraudulent products and false product claims related to the Ebola virus and takes appropriate action to protect consumers.
•There are no approved treatments for Ebola available for purchase on the Internet.
•Experimental Ebola vaccines and treatments are in the early stages of product development, have not yet been fully tested for safety or effectiveness, and the supply is very limited. A claim that a product prevents, treats, or cures a disease requires prior approval by FDA.
•Consumers are warned to beware unapproved products sold online and in retail stores claiming to prevent or treat the Ebola virus and other conditions, such as cancer, autism, Parkinson’s and heart disease. Consumers who have seen these fraudulent products or false claims are encouraged to report them to the FDA.
Allergy Symptoms
Allergy symptoms can vary tremendously from person to person, allergen to allergen and place to place. In one person, the symptoms of allergies might be the typical sneezing, stuffy nose and runny eyes. Another person might suffer a general feeling of illness or malaise or stomach problems that they don’t understand are related to allergies. The human immune system is extremely complicated, and there are many different ways it can become disturbed and overreact to allergens. Getting your allergy symptoms under control can take months or even years.
If you or anyone in your household suffers from allergies then you should consider having your ducts cleaned, and especially, check out a HEPA filter.
These come in portable or whole-house systems that are attached right on your furnace, and can make an immediate improvement to your indoor air quality.
Allergies can be controlled and treated. So if you have any of these symptoms for more than a week you should seek the advice of a doctor. To learn more about the five most common allergy symptoms, take a look at the video below.
They do not mention anything about dust allergies specifically, but they do refer to and explain about the problems related to seasonal allergies, which can be just as bothersome. Some good advice regarding avoidance of allergy symptoms is provided.
It Has Been Confirmed
It has been confirmed. Breathing clean air makes you live longer!
If you want your air to be clean then you have to do two things:
1. Regularly clean your air duct systems. This includes all exhausts and fresh air intakes.
2. Regularly clean or replace your air filters.
These two items are crucial to breathing cleaner air in any building.
Call us for a free no-obligation estimate. Our pricing is reasonable and we provide a quality service.
We can help make your air noticeably cleaner starting today!
(416) 293-1800
People on average, breathe about 25,000 times per day. We unconsciously breathe in toxic air comprised of bacteria, virus, pollen, house dust, tobacco and offensive smells.
Take a look at this interesting video we found, which is about a new kind of air cleaner. I’ve never actually seen anything like this, but isn’t this almost the same thing as a vaporizer? It looks like a mini space ship, and uses only water to clean the air. It looks cool and they say it does a great job but I think I’ll definitely stick with my Home Hepa Filtration System. It already has proven results. And you should see how much dust it takes out the air!
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is the condition and content of interior air, especially with regards to how it affects health and safety of humans. The chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of the atmosphere inside of homes and in commercial and institutional buildings can be influenced in many ways.
Sometimes the effects on indoor air quality can be sufficient to cause people to experience significant discomfort, and in extreme cases to become physically ill.
Recent studies have proven that indoor air quality is generally worse than outside air quality.
If you would like to improve your indoor air quality, there are many options available. Professional duct cleaning and upgrading your air filtration systems are usually the first steps to be taken in the process. If these items are done properly, some people could notice amazing results.
When your furnace is running, air travels through the air ducts and is blown throughout the home or building. In these ducts, dirt, dust, pollen, dust mites, and other pollutants accumulate over time. As well, if the ducts become humid, there will eventually be significant growth of bacteria, mold, and other organisms. According to the USEPA, “the levels of some hazardous pollutants in indoor air have been found to be up to 70 times greater than in outdoor air.” People who have such conditions as allergies and bronchial problems such as asthma are susceptible to serious reactions. To keep the air in your home or businesses clean, one should have their air ducts cleaned at least once a year.
Please call us at (416) 293-1800 to schedule an appointment or to discuss your indoor air quality needs.
Take a look at this very informative video that explains alot of what you need to know about your indoor air quality (IAQ). The sound quality is not amazing but the video offers tons of excellent information.
What a Summer
HOT!!! Yeah no kidding. Here in Toronto it has been exceptionally hot this summer…but are we complaining? No Way!!
But is your air conditioner complaining? Maybe. Whenever you operate the air duct system for heating or cooling, the bottom of the Air Conditioning coil has a greater chance of clogging with dirt.
This can often cause your coil to freeze up and will definitely reduce your air flow down to almost nothing. Give us a call and we might be able to help you over the phone, and if not, then one of our friendly technicians will be happy to stop by and help with your cooling needs.
Here is a useful video that explains some ways of how to stay cool during our extremely hot summers.
Published on Jun 19, 2012
Toronto EMS Public Service Announcement, the dangers of hot weather and quick tips to stay safe.
